The Agora

MacroPolis
  • 4.8 (6)
  • NEWS COMMENTARY
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

The Agora is a podcast created by the team behind MacroPolis. It’s a political and economic analysis website based in Athens. In this podcast series, we examine political, economic and social developments in Greece. But our podcasts will also look at what’s happening in the world around us. We provide listeners with insight from our own experts and analysis from special guests. If you enjoy intelligent, lively discussion and want the bigger picture, join us for a stroll through the Agora. To get an idea of the kind of insight we provide, check out The Agora blog, which has being going strong since 2013. Our theme music is a track called Straight Line Blues and has been kindly provided by the Burgundy Grapes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 6H AGO

    Kaisariani photos: Why Greece’s past is present

    When a set of long‑lost photographs of the 1944 May Day executions of 200 Greeks by Nazi occupation forces suddenly surfaced on eBay in February, Greece was shaken. The images — the first ever to show the two hundred political prisoners, Communists, walking to their deaths at the Kaisariani shooting range in Athens — reopened a chapter of history that has never stopped shaping the country’s politics. With the help of our guest Professor Elias Dinas from the European University Institute in Florence, in this episode we explore why these photographs matter now: how they collide with decades of suppressed memory, why Kaisariani remains a defining symbol for the Greek Left, and what their reappearance reveals about the ongoing struggle over who gets to tell the story of the past. Useful reading Never-before-seen photos of Nazi executions in Greece surface on eBay – France24 ‘We can see that courage’: Greece recovers long-lost photos of Nazis’ May Day executions – The Guardian Man moved as photo of grandfather’s execution by Nazis surfaces - Kathimerini Message from the past, mirror for today - Kathimerini Kaisariani Execution: Three More Historic Photographs Surface – To Vima Photographs of 1944 Nazi Executions in Greece Declared Protected Monument – Dnews Cretan Man Recognizes His Grandfather in Kaisariani Execution Pics – To Vima Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    46 min

  2. JAN 30

    Walking a tightrope: Greece’s geopolitical balancing act

    Greece is navigating one of its most complex geopolitical moments in years — from tensions stretching across Venezuela, Greenland, Iran, and Ukraine to the high‑stakes energy diplomacy of the Vertical Corridor. With pressure mounting on Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Athens is working to balance alliances, protect its credibility, and seize new economic openings. In this episode, host Nick Malkoutzis is joined by George Tzogopoulos, Senior Fellow at ELIAMEP and Director of EU–China Programs at the European Institute of Nice. George breaks down the strategic dilemmas shaping Greece’s foreign policy amid the uncertainty created by US President Donald Trump's global designs. Useful reading Athens navigates geopolitical whirlwind - Kathimerini Greece’s Vertical Corridor Heads to Washington After Athens Energy Summit - OT Trump’s erratic trade policy blamed for US gas auction flop in Eastern Europe - Politico Athens fears Turkish trap on Trump's peace board - Euractiv Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    20 min

  3. 12/17/2025

    Tax cuts and balancing acts: Greece’s 2026 budget

    Greece's 2026 budget was voted through Parliament on Tuesday, just ahead of the Christmas break. It contained some gifts for Greek taxpayers as it includes the tax cuts worth 1.2 billion euros that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had announced earlier in the year. But what else of note is in the budget? MacroPolis co-founder Yiannis Mouzakis joins host Nick Malkoutzis in The Agora to discuss the details of the economic plan. They take a closer look at the role of investments and Greece's broader economic story as it heads into the New Year. Useful reading Greek parliament approves 2026 budget amid protests - Reuters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    17 min

  4. 11/20/2025

    Main character energy: Greece vies for leading fossil fuel role

    Greece is trying to secure a central role in the global energy game. In this episode of *The Agora*, we explore how a flurry of recent deals is positioning the country as a key player in the transatlantic energy landscape. From the launch of the Vertical Corridor - linking U.S. LNG to Ukraine via Greece - to offshore drilling in the Ionian Sea and the revival of the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI) with Cyprus, the stakes are high but the ambitions seem to be even higher. Is this a strategic masterstroke or a risky bet? Host Nick Malkoutzis is joined by MacroPolis energy expert Georgia Nakou to unpack the geopolitical, environmental and domestic implications of Greece’s energy pivot. We examine whether Greece can balance power and principle in its new starring role. Useful reading Ionian Sea gas exploration deal a ‘vote of confidence’ - Kathimerini Greece signs first long-term deal to supply Europe with US LNG - Reuters Athens and Kyiv sign LNG deal as Greece adopts US energy agenda - Politico Greece: Offshore gas instead of green energy projects? - Deutsche Welle Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    26 min

  5. 10/01/2025

    15% Uncertainty: Greece, Europe and the tariff shockwave

    Over the past year the United States has reset its trade stance through a series of executive tariff moves and a high profile EU–US framework that established a 15 percent baseline levy. In this episode we’ll trace how a headline tariff number translates into real costs for businesses in Greece and what broader implications there are for global trade. Our guest on The Agora is Jens Bastian, an independent economic consultant and author of a timely briefing for MacroPolis on the likely effects of recent US tariff policy on Europe, but also the Greek economy specifically. Useful reading How will Trump's tariffs affect Greece? - MacroPolis Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    36 min

  6. 09/15/2025

    DETH and taxes: The only things certain in Greek politics

    Greece's new political season is underway and it promises to be full of twists and turns as the ruling New Democracy party tries to perform a course correction to get on track for a decisive third straight election victory. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis got the ball rolling this month by announcing a package of significant tax cuts, mostly aimed at helping Greek households cope with ongoing cost-of-living challenges. Mitsotakis is hoping that the reductions will help rebuild his government's damaged relationship with voters, keep the opposition parties at bay and put the ruling centre-right party on a trajectory that would secure it another parliamentary majority in the next elections, which are due in 2027. MacroPolis co-founder Yiannis Mouzakis and features editor Georgia Nakou join host Nick Malkoutzis in The Agora to discuss the economic and political implications of the Greek PM's announcements. Useful reading Greek Premier Offers €1.6 Billion Tax Cuts to Spur Middle Class - Bloomberg Greek PM unveils tax breaks amid cost of living crisis - Reuters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    26 min

  7. 07/03/2025

    Subsidise this: Fraud scandal delivers new blow to Greek PM

    Anyone hoping for a calm summer in Greece just had their hopes dashed. A political storm is engulfing Athens, with four government officials already ousted amid a deepening scandal tied to the misuse of EU agricultural funds. At the heart of the storm is OPEKEPE—the Payment and Control Agency for Guidance and Guarantee Community Aid. An explosive investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has uncovered what appears to be sweeping fraud in how EU subsidies were handled. Some experts warn the financial fallout could stretch into the hundreds of millions of euros. The EPPO has handed over its finding, based in part on legally sanctioned surveillance, to the Greek Parliament. Lawmakers now face a critical decision: whether to lift the parliamentary immunity of more than a dozen politicians named in the case so formal charges can be brought. Among those implicated are former agricultural development ministers Makis Voridis and Lefteris Avgenakis. Voridis, who had most recently served as migration minister, resigned on June 27, while firmly denying any wrongdoing. Three deputy ministers also stepped down. This latest crisis couldn’t come at a worse time for Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Still reeling from the public backlash earlier this year over his administration’s handling of the Tempe train disaster, he now finds himself back on the defensive. So what does this mean for the future of the Mitsotakis government, and for Greek politics as a whole? Could this be the spark that sets off snap elections? To dig into the implications of Greece’s newest political convulsion, The Agora welcomed MacroPolis co-founder Yiannis Mouzakis and features editor Georgia Nakou for a deep dive into what may be a defining moment for the summer, and beyond.   Useful reading The big fat Greek plot to defraud the EU – Politico Prosecutor implicates two Greek ministers in huge EU farm fraud – Politico EU funds way to get fickle farmers’ vote – Kathimerini OPEKEPE: The scandal that keeps on giving – Kathimerini OPEKEPE: The bowl with honey – Inside Story The country that watched the goats go by – Inside Story       Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    32 min

  8. 05/20/2025

    Fet-a-ccompli: Tariffs and Greece’s big cheese

    As the world mulls the impact and consequences of the tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump on so-called "liberation day", Greece has a very specific concern. The focus of the tariff-related debate in Greece was very much on the fate of feta, Greece's most popular cheese and one of its main agricultural exports to the US and many other parts of the world. What is feta? Why does it hold such a special place in Greek culture? And, why is Greece so keen to protect this particular product? To answer all these questions, we invited Thomas Ntinas to join us in The Agora. Thomas is our show's producer, but he joins us in his capacity as the host of The Delicious Legacy, which is an archaeogastronomical podcast that travels through time to discover recipes and traditions from the past, but also to examine the sociopolitical and economic aspects of food and gastronomy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    30 min
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4.8
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About

The Agora is a podcast created by the team behind MacroPolis. It’s a political and economic analysis website based in Athens. In this podcast series, we examine political, economic and social developments in Greece. But our podcasts will also look at what’s happening in the world around us. We provide listeners with insight from our own experts and analysis from special guests. If you enjoy intelligent, lively discussion and want the bigger picture, join us for a stroll through the Agora. To get an idea of the kind of insight we provide, check out The Agora blog, which has being going strong since 2013. Our theme music is a track called Straight Line Blues and has been kindly provided by the Burgundy Grapes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    MacroPolis
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    68
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © MacroPolis
  • Show Website
    The Agora